Trying New Hobbies (and Old Ones) to Boost Self-Esteem

With this post, I want to talk about how trying new things has helped boost my self-esteem. There have been many times when I feel like I'm stuck or in a rut, and those times typically lead to questioning my self-worth and doubting what I want to do. Today, I'll share how trying new things -- and even reviving some old ones -- helped boost my self-esteem.

Trying New Hobbies Is a Challenge When Self-Esteem Is Low

One of the first steps to bringing myself out of a rut is admitting that my current circumstances aren't working. I tell myself that something needs to change.

These aren't extreme or dire circumstances by any means. It's just that I'm feeling a bit stuck and want to move forward positively.

After telling myself that everything is okay, I start thinking of ways that I can change things up. Something I've found helpful as of late is reviving old hobbies and trying new ones.

Trying Old Hobbies Can Help Boost Self-Esteem

When I was younger, I played soccer nearly every day of the week. It was a full-time job for me. I played on two teams year-round throughout middle and high school, and I loved every second of it. In college, I stopped playing and haven't kicked a ball since.

As I decided to revamp old hobbies, soccer was priority number one. I went to the field I grew up playing on and ran around for a few hours. It took me a while to get my touch back, but once I did, it felt great. It was like any of the troubles weighing me down were drowned out with each strike. Afterward, I was exhausted, and it felt great. The sore right ankle was utterly worth it.

Trying New Hobbies Can Help Boost Self-Esteem

Alongside reviving old hobbies, I'm always on the quest for new ones. The most recent one I've been fascinated with is collecting trading cards, and I'm particularly fond of MLB, NBA, and NFL cards. It's such a simple hobby, yet it brings me joy. The mystery of not knowing what I could get paired with the feeling of finding a great card makes for a significant mood boost. I even use them as a reward system for when I hit certain milestones, which helps me when working from home.

Now, I'm not saying that hobbies are an instant self-esteem boost. I'm simply sharing what has helped me get out of slumps throughout my life. It's not necessarily the hobbies themselves that helped me, but the new connection I found to myself that helped move me forward.

Has trying new things helped increase your self-esteem? Tell me about it in the comments.